WHEN dying teenager Lee Donovan implored his family “Don’t let people forget me”, his sister vowed she’d never let that happen.

And despite struggling following her younger brother’s death, aged just 18, when he lost his year-long fight with acute myeloid leukaemia on October 15, 2001 after a bone marrow donor pulled out at the last minute, Adele Donovan has well and truly kept that promise.

Now Adele, who marked the 10-year anniversary of Lee’s death this year by walking the Great Wall of China, has been nominated in the champion fundraiser category of the Evening Gazette’s Community Champions awards by her proud mum Marie Knight-Morton.

Marie, 52, said: “When Lee died 10 years ago he had asked ‘don’t let people forget me’ - as if we could!

“Since then Adele has done many events. While Lee was still alive she did the Over the Top Middlesbrough Transporter challenge and she raised £1,000, which Lee presented to staff of ward three, the oncology and haematology ward at James Cook Hospital.

“Adele has also done a zip slide from the Transporter and the Tyne Bridge, numerous boot sales, cake stalls and charity nights, but she wanted to do something spectacular for his 10th memorial.

“She set herself and stepfather Glen Morton the Great Wall of China challenge, with a target of £10,000. It was a challenge that would test her financially, emotionally and physically.

“It would be the first time she would be parted from her two beautiful daughters (Abbie Croft, 14, and Louisa Jefferson, eight) for more than a day or two, and I knew that in itself was a huge challenge.”

Although Adele suffered a fall on the second day, badly injuring the ligaments in her foot, she pushed on with a heavily strapped boot, and the pair managed to complete the “Stairway to Heaven”, an ascent of thousands of steps - taking a picture of Lee to the top with them.

Marie added: “It was an extremely emotional experience. There were a few times when she thought she couldn’t do it, but she said the thought of Lee and what he had endured spurred her on.

“At the top there was a graffiti wall were she left an inscription simply saying DONO 2011.”

Adele and Glen’s challenge will now help other families with poorly relatives, as the money they raised will go to blood cancer charity Bright Red, which aims to improve the lives and treatment of people with blood cancers.

Although they haven’t quite met their £10,000 target, the cash raised - just over £6,000 so far - will still add a substantial sum to more than £24,000 already raised by the family since Lee’s death.

“I knew the trek was going to be tough, but I didn’t quite realise how tough.

“It was an amazing experience though and I’m so glad we did it.”

Marie added: “I can’t put into words how proud I am of her. It challenged her on every level and at times to the limit, but she succeeded. She is a fighter just like her brother Lee. I would love her to see how much her efforts are valued and of course she is always my champion.”